The BHA Housing Policy Fellowship is a part-time 16 week program focused on innovation, sustainability, and housing policy strategy. Please apply by filling out this Google Form.The deadline for applications is October 23rd, 2026.

What is the Housing Policy Fellowship program?
The BHA is offering a 16 week fellowship program for graduate students interested in developing, implementing, and advancing housing-related policies that will positively impact the lives of public housing residents and Section 8 voucher holders. BHA will be hosting a cohort of five fellows for the Spring of 2027 with potential to extend into the summer.

Fellows may support BHA projects related to resident engagement, sustainability, wealth and asset building, innovative housing models, and more. Each fellow will be working on individual projects, each joining a BHA department and directly reporting to senior BHA staff. All five fellows will be meeting regularly as a cohort with fellowship supervisors Dr. Taylor Cain, Chief of Staff, Dr. Nicholas Kelly, Chief of Innovation & Economic Opportunity, and Maya Harel, Assistant to the Chief of Staff.

Weekly hours will vary between 15-20 hours per week, allowing for flexibility within current school schedule. All fellows must be available on Wednesday or Thursday afternoons from 2:00-4:00pm for in-person weekly check-ins at our downtown Boston office. Upon selection, further coordination will determine the ideal time within this availability for all five fellows.

When does the fellowship program run?
Tuesday, January 19– Friday, May 7

 
What kind of projects will fellows work on? 
Fellows may work with BHA departments such as Administration, Public Housing, Resident Engagement, Media and Intergovernmental Relations, Planning Construction and Development, Economic Opportunity, Leased Housing, Sustainability, and more. Some of our previous fellows have worked on:

• Promoting a portfolio-wide resident survey, evaluating the data received, and developing presentation materials to share survey results
• Researching, developing, and launching an Energy Secure Homes pilot program to connect our Section 8 voucher holders with energy efficiency upgrades
• Reviewing our economic mobility programs and developing a comprehensive strategy document charting the future of these programs
• Engaging with residents to plan open space improvements at public housing sites and using lessons learned to write a resident engagement handbook
• Expanding public health education about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by working with partner organizations to run brain health educational workshops at our public housing sites
• Increasing the accessibility and user friendliness of BHA’s Five Year Plan to better connect with residents and community leaders, including graphic design and website content creation
• Employing Geographic Information System (GIS) software as a tool to create maps and diagrams of our portfolio to use as internal guides and as clear visual communications to residents about upcoming projects

Who can apply?
We are looking for current graduate students with a strong interest in or curiosity about public service and housing. We invite students from different disciplines including urban planning, public administration, environmental studies, architecture, sociology, graphic design, and other related fields. Fellows will be expected to work both in-person and remotely during the duration of the fellowship program. 

How do I apply?
Please apply by filling out this Google Form. The deadline for applications is October 23rd. Selected candidates will be invited to a group interview in November. Final decisions will be made in December.

Compensation:
$24/hour (fellows will be expected to work part-time, 15-20 hours per week) 

If you have any further questions about the program, please reach out to Maya Harel at maya.harel@bostonhousing.org